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Jojo Moyes Says She Nearly Quit Before 'Me Before You' in Desert Island Discs Interview

Her Desert Island Discs appearance credits the late Sophie Kinsella for pushing her to finish the book.

Overview

  • Moyes says she was broke and feared her writing career was ending after eight earlier novels failed to reach bestseller lists.
  • She recounts that Sophie Kinsella urged her to keep going after she stalled at about 20,000 words, with Kinsella’s husband also phoning to encourage her.
  • Moyes says the story drew on a report about a quadriplegic rugby player whose parents took him to the Dignitas clinic in Switzerland.
  • According to Moyes, the novel built momentum gradually and became a bestseller in Brazil, South Korea and the United States.
  • Coverage notes a 2016 film adaptation starring Emilia Clarke and Sam Claflin, with recent reports citing roughly 14 million copies sold.